INSIDE NORTHWESTERN.

Wildcats Must Find--or Make--offensive Line

September 02, 1998|By Rick Morrissey, Tribune Staff Writer.

Gary Barnett, like many college football coaches, enjoys attaching themes to his seasons. His working title for 1998 carries all the proper connotations of resolve and aggression such themes require: "We Will Find a Way--or Make One."

But going into its first game, Northwestern has some concerns about protecting a young quarterback with no college experience. So if finding a way or making a way looks iffy, here's a possible backup plan: "We Will Find an Offensive Line--Or Else We're in Trouble."

The Wildcats play UNLV on Saturday at Ryan Field hoping an inexperienced line quickly grows together. It didn't help that starting guard Brian Hemmerle suffered a partially torn right anterior cruciate ligament during a scrimmage last week. He likely won't play Saturday, meaning Jack Harnedy will make his first career start.

He's not alone. Redshirt freshman guard Lance Clelland also will make his first start, as will tackle Ryan Friedrich and center Ty Garner. Only tackle Bryan LaBelle, who started every game last year, has significant experience.

Hemmerle did, too, and that hurts, Barnett said.

"You take an experienced guy who played pretty well out there, it's extremely tough," he said. "Hemmerle brings a lot of toughness to our offense. You take him out of there and LaBelle has to step it up. The tight end has to take over."

If not, it could be a long afternoon for quarterback Gavin Hoffman. UNLV features defensive end Talance Sawyer, who had 85 tackles and seven sacks last season.

"We anticipate seeing a lot of heat," Barnett said. "The first thing you do is blitz a new quarterback."

Bates and tackles: It was a little more than a year ago that D'Wayne Bates saw his season disappear on one reception.

In last year's opener against Oklahoma in the Pigskin Classic, Bates caught a pass, was tackled and broke his leg. Since then, he has rehabilitated it, fractured his ankle, missed the spring game and rehabbed some more.

He has made it through the summer without serious injury. He said he's not worried about the next big hit from a defensive back.

"I think all the jitters are gone," he said. "I had the first hit in Kenosha. We had two scrimmages where there was a lot of contact. I think I've taken as many hits as I'm going to get during the season."

Punter controversy? One of the more unsettled positions coming out of the spring game was punter. None stood out, and at one point during summer camp Barnett had five punters competing for the job.

He now sounds like a guy who is pretty sure he has a punter.

"Today I would punt J.J. Standring, but I would not at all be afraid to punt Eron Kosmowski," he said. "And I may punt them both. But right now, I'd punt J.J. Standring."

Standring, from St. Rita High School, wasn't available for all of spring practice because he pitched for the Wildcat baseball team.

They'll play: Barnett said as many as 10 true freshmen could see playing time this season including the Wildcats' most high-profile recruit, defensive end Craig Albrecht, of St. Louis.

Albrecht has struggled with a foot injury recently but should play Saturday.